Women's soccer announces 2015 regular season slate

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Behind the direction of first-year head coach Andy Biggs, the Bryant University women's soccer team is pleased to announce its 2015 regular season schedule, a slate that kicks off on Friday, Aug. 21 at Akron.

The Bulldogs are coming off one of their most trying seasons at the Division I level, finishing the 2014 season with a 4-13-2 overall mark, with six losses coming by way of overtime. However, with a strong core returning in 2015 led by All-Northeast Conference honorees Sarah Schucker (Nanuet, N.Y.) and Kaylan Conrad (Avon, Conn.), the Black and Gold are ready to take the next step toward earning their first DI postseason berth.

"We are excited for the 2015 season to begin," said Biggs. "We believe the mix of in and out of region opponents on our non-conference schedule will prepare us to challenge for a spot in the Northeast Conference Tournament come November."

After kicking things at Akron on Aug. 21, Bryant will wrap things up in Ohio at Kent St. on Aug. 23 before trekking back to Rhode Island for a showdown with Providence College on Thursday, Aug. 27. A week later, the Bulldogs will look to avenge 2014's 2-1 loss at URI in their home opener on Thursday, Sept. 3 at Bulldog Soccer Field.

Following the quick one-game homestand, the Black and Gold will hit the road once again for matches at Fairfield (Sept. 6), UMass (Sept. 10) and Hartford (Sept. 13) before returning to Smithfield to host UMass Lowell on Sept. 17. The Bulldogs close out the non-conference portion of their schedule with trips to Holy Cross on Sept. 22 and Brown on Sept. 30.

Bryant opens its NEC slate with a pair of home matches vs. Sacred Heart on Friday, Oct. 2 (3 p.m.) and Wagner on Sunday, Oct. 4 (1 p.m.). After a trip to Pennsylvania for contests at Saint Francis U. (Oct. 9) and Robert Morris (Oct. 11), the Bulldogs head back to Smithfield to host Mount St. Mary's on Friday, Oct. 16 (3 p.m.). Bryant wraps up the month of October with matches at Fairleigh Dickinson (Oct. 23) and vs. defending NEC Champs Central Connecticut on Friday, Oct. 30 (3 p.m.). The Bulldogs close out their regular season schedule at home vs. LIU Brooklyn on Sunday, Nov. 1.

The 2015 NEC Tournament will be held on Friday, Nov. 6 and Sunday, Nov. 8 at the regular season's top seed.